The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-09
photograph and saxed upon II remorsc

A lovely face The face Of woman oi
| 80. or ereabouts-beantiful, yet sad,
oh, so sad, so sorrowful, perhaps from
slowly consuming heart break, but with
such divine patience and accomplishing
resignation in the softly shaded checks
and deep spiritual eyes.
Poor Madge, Poor sister MadgeN he
murmuced "Could you have imagined
how your picture was destined 10 inter
pose between my heart and the avenger ;
| bullet how would your own tender heart
have stood still as you gave it me, with
YOUR pious godspeed, two years ago.
What could have been the subtle spell
that II wrought upon such an adamantine
nature as Springfield Grants III my be
| hoof}'
He passed his hand over his brow re-
neclvely.
"Once. only once" he resumed, "up
Wonder in the gulch, did he look upon II,
by accident. True, he started strangely
then: but directly afterward he merely
complimented me coldly on your good
looks. Madge, when told him you were
my sister, my only sister and my all on
earth. That was all Could he have
been concerned in the cruel disappOint-
ment. or misunderstanding, which, |
have heard, ruined your maiden hopes Of
bliss when / was but a child, making
your latter years so bitter, and yet 50
sweet. 50 motherly to me; Hardly.
Though Springfield has but seldom alluded
10 his antecedents, do not think ne
could have been from Our neighborhOod
i'm the east What was Your picture
softening influence. then, upon such
man. my sister; Alas! nothing more,
| fear. than passing generous freak III
heart unused 10 pity Doubtless that
was all. and now my life is his upon de
mand 40 matter You are 10 be- with
me tomorrow. Madge You are thence
forth 10 make your home with me, ana
not another soul the wiser And when
We have become snully settled ia the
little ranch that have been secretly pay
inQ for and fitting zap perhaps my mis-
used chum may set further forgive me
those crazy words. and torcgo tie life ceDl
that must be his for the asking
He laid the picture upon the stand and
arose
4 will 20 f. him" hc repeated "N es,
1 will al least humble myself before him,
as j. only just even though he spurn me
with contempt And yet what is The
use. " hat was my proyocation, His
stern. but well meant interference 10 pre-
vent me losing my pile 10 a notorious
gambler and cheat, who was careful
enough on his part the skulking coward
not 10 resent the thwartlng. And that
was my requitsl Of such kindness. Good
lord torrents of foul abuse. and those
mad. those idiotic epirhets am crazy 70
dream that he will forgive il that he viii
not demand his shot on occasion. On,
Madge, Madge 10 what ruin may our
hoped for happiness be doomed by my
folly and my madness
lie took another drink from the bottle
and desperately threw himself OH the bed,
after merely throwing oil his coat and
boots.
He presently fell asleep. while softly re-
peatins the words Madgc, Madge' re
united at last
He was awakened AT daylight by suf
locating sensation, and GOT upon his feet
coughing and splitting
The room was fast filling with smoke,
the reflection of flames rose and fell before
the window, the very boards beneath hls
feet were hot lie tore open the door
The corridor was fun of yet densei smoke,
scanned with occasional flashes cries Of
alarm were ringing through the lower
passages. and there was Il crash from
somewhere below followed by Il fountain
Of spark and flames which he correctly
attributed 10 the fall Of burned away
staircase. thus cutting of escape ia that
direction lie closed the door, staggered
across the floor 10 the window, aud hurl Il
the sashes outward by a single pressure
Of his powerful hand
lie was in the fifth story Of the burning
hotel. fully sixty feet above the stony
street. which was filed with au excited
multitude.
They were gesticulatug and yelling to
him. but that was all Plenty Of useless
running about impracticable yocifera
lions ia abundance, bat not a thing being
done or offered Tor his relief from the ap-
palling situation
The flames which were spouting out Of
the whole rows of lower windows, licked
upon the sea oi upturned faces, and Yet
more hideously upon his own, which he
felt to have grown of an ashy hue. while
his heart was beating like steam pump
TO add TO his horror, the passengers
were alighting from the eastern mail
stage, which had just drawn up before
the station, at the edge Of the little plaza
nearly opposite, and the second one to
touch the ground was a woman-his sister
Madge herself.
She looked terrified by the confusion.
Sarcasm of destiny Had she come at
last all the way from Ohio, with nothing
but love for HIM and hopeful expectations
in her heart only TO meet his final glance.
his fond brotherly gaze, across this lurid
depth. this sea of flames>
Yes for even at that instant she per
eeived him-recognized him-and their
looks met.
His heart ceased its wild thTobbings and
then stood still with sympathetic anguish
as he marked her bloodless face, her frozen
attitude the Undesirable horror in her
dnated eyes and parted lips.
Then the crowd undulated and yelled as
four stalwart men forced, punched and
shouldered their way through it, bearing
two long house painters ladders spliced
together, under the swift, self possessed
man, who was knotting even as he gave
his orders, wetted handkerchief over the
lower part of his face as "A protection